MINUTES OF THE VIRTUAL MEETING OF BERINSFIELD PARISH COUNCIL held on Monday 7th June 2021 at 7.15 p.m.

Councillor S. Scott-Ely - Chairman Councillor P. Bridge Councillor I. Bunyan Councillor K. Chrisp Councillor S. Crawford Councillor S. Henry Councillor Mrs. A. Jones Councillor S. Perkins Councillor D. Smith Councillor Mrs. R. Stockford

The following people were present for all or part of the meeting

District and County Councillor Robin Bennett Annette Loveland, Clerk to the Council One member of the public

1. Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Croft and Councillor Fearneyhough.

2. Declaration of Interests. There were no declarations of interest.

3. County Councillor’s Report. The Chairman, Councillor Stuart Scott-Ely welcomed County Councillor Robin Bennett to the meeting as the new County Councillor for the Berinsfield Ward. County Councillor Bennett had prepared a written report which had been circulated electronically to all members of the Parish Council prior to the meeting. The contents of the report were noted by Members and comments were made on the following items

a) Active Travel. The proposal for a cycle route from Berinsfield to Oxford is being supported by Oxfordshire County Council and they will put this forward as their chosen project in their application to Central Government on the 19th June, 2021.

b) School Transport. County Councillor Bennett has had a meeting with the School Transport Officers at the County Council with a view to looking for ways to resolve the problem whereby children are charged for using the buses to Secondary Schools. Councillor Perkins informed the meeting that residents do not feel they should have to pay for their children to get to school. Councillor Mrs. Jones pointed out that the Abingdon Secondary Schools are the catchment schools for children living in Berinsfield and therefore transport should be provided free of charge. County Councillor Bennett would like to hear from residents about their experiences of getting their children to school on the school buses.

County Councillor Bennett informed the Council that there will be a meeting with the Head of the Abingdon Learning Trust, County Officers and representatives from affected areas. The Chairman, Councillor Stuart Scott-Ely asked County Councillor Bennett to let the Parish Council know when the meeting would be held.

4. District Councillor’s Report. District Councillor Bennett had prepared a written Report which had been circulated electronically to all Members of the Parish Council, the contents of which had been noted by Members of the Parish Council. Comments were made on the following items.

a) Bikers at the H Café. District Councillor Bennett had been contacted by Dorchester-on-Thames Parish Council with regard to issues caused by some of the bikers who meet at the H Café at Berinsfield roundabout. District Councillor Bennett suggested that a letter be sent to the new Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Barber, and Oxfordshire County Council Officers to see if any action could be taken to encourage the bikers to be neighbourly when meeting at the H Café. A proposal was put forward for consideration to be given to extending the 40 mph speed limit further along the Dorchester by pass. Members of the Parish Council considered this would be a good idea as it would restrict the speed near to the point where pedestrians have to cross the bypass to reach the bus stop.

The Chairman, Councillor Stuart Scott-Ely informed the meeting that a request from Dorchester-on-Thames Parish Council to work together with Berinsfield Parish Council with regard to the bikers who meet at the H Café was considered at the Parish Council meeting on 12th April 2021 and the Parish Council had agreed that Dorchester Parish Council should be informed that Berinsfield Parish Council is supportive of encouraging the bikers to maintain neighbourly behaviour whilst attending their meetings at the H-Café. District Councillor Bennett will speak to Dorchester Parish Council to ask that a joint letter be drafted to the Police Crime Commissioner and Oxfordshire County Council. It was also agreed that the Police should be thanked for their efforts and their presence at the H Café on the days that the bikers meet there.

b) Town and Parish Council Forum. Councillor Bridge attended the Forum on 27th May when the climate and ecological emergencies were discussed. South Oxfordshire District Council plan to hold the forums on a much more regular basis, possibly once a month, with each one focussing on a different topic.

c) Berinsfield Garden Village. District Councillor Bennett informed the Parish Council that the draft minutes from the last Berinsfield Garden Village meeting held on 13th May, 2021 had been circulated to attendees for comment prior to being circulated. There will be an information stall about the Garden Village at the Berinsfield village fete on 24th July 2021.

d) Neighbourhood Planning District Councillor Bennett informed the meeting that he had met with Ptarmigan and the Master Planning Officer from South Oxfordshire District Council. The Chairman, Councillor Stuart Scott-Ely enquired if it was appropriate for meetings to take place without representatives from the Parish Council being present. District Councillor Bennett informed the Council that the meeting it was to deal with District Council matters.

The Chairman, Councillor Stuart Scott-Ely, thanked Robin Bennett for attending the meeting and for submitting his reports on behalf of the County Council and District Council.

5. To receive and approve the Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 4th May, 2021. It was AGREED that the Minutes of the virtual meeting of Berinsfield Parish Council held on 4th May, 2021 should be APPROVED.

6. To consider planning applications received to date.

a) Planning Application No. P21/S1365/HH New front porch, single-storey rear extension at the rear to link existing garage and change rear garage door and window to double glazing. Front garage door changed to window and door. 202 Fane Drive, Berinsfield, OX10 7 QA The Parish Council AGREED that South Oxfordshire District Council should be informed that it has no objections to this planning application.

b) Planning Application No. P21/S2098/HH Single and double storey rear extensions. 37 Lodden Avenue, Berinsfield OX10 7PY The Parish Council considered this application and it was AGREED that South Oxfordshire District Council should be informed that it should be refused on the following grounds :-

i) The application does not reflect what has already been constructed on the site, therefore the application should be for retrospective development and not a new development.

ii) The first floor extension is significantly larger than shown on the drawings.

iii) The Parish Council understand that there is an active enforcement action case in respect of this property.

iv) The Parish Council would like the Planning Officer to visit the property prior to any planning decision being made.

c) Details pursuant to condition 7 (landfill gas control plant restoration) of Planning Permission P92/W0013/CC (MW.001/93) Wally Corner Landfill site, Burcot Lane, Dorchester OX10 7BJ. (OCC ref: MW.0076/21)

The Parish Council noted that the original development was for a landfill gas control plant. This development was completed in 1994 and the landfill site closed in 1997. The former landfill site covers an area of approximately 8 hectares and is now used for solar electricity generation. As the application relates to the restoration of a closed site and no further development is proposed, it was not considered that any further environmental information was required at this stage.

It was AGREED to inform Oxfordshire County Council that the Parish Council does not have any objections to the proposed works, but assumes that Oxfordshire County Council has been in touch with the current owners of the Solar Farm.

The Parish Council would like Oxfordshire County Council to note that it was in discussion with the original owners of the Solar Farm about providing a building on the site to be used as an educational hub to allow the community to understand how the energy is produced and used. The area where the gas control plant is located is secured by a fence and would be an ideal location for the Solar Farm owners to provide an educational hub.

7. Correspondence and Items for Information.

a) Oxfordshire County Council Community Renewal Fund. The Parish Council noted that the Parish Council did not submit an application to the Community Renewal Fund as it was primarily for revenue funding and not capital funding.

b) Neighbourhood Planning – Locality High Streets and Social Infrastructure Support. The Parish Council noted that the Consultant assisting the Council with its Neighbourhood Development Plan advised that the Parish Council should not apply for the Locality High Streets and Social Infrastructure support. The Chairman, Councillor Stuart Scott-Ely, informed Members that the Parish Council should continue with its plans for a Neighbourhood Development Plan.

c) Community First Oxfordshire. It was AGREED that the Community Development Worker should be invited to make a presentation at a future Parish Council meeting about the work carried out by Community First Oxfordshire.

d) Request to use recreation ground for a “pop up shop”. The Parish Council considered a request from a resident to site a “pop up shop” on the recreation ground on a regular basis. The Parish Council felt that the recreation ground, a public open space, was not a suitable location for a “pop up shop”, but the resident should be informed she could hire the pavilion for this purpose if she wished. It was AGREED that the resident should be informed that she could not site a “pop up shop” on the recreation ground, but that the pavilion was available for hire and she could apply to hire it at the normal hourly rate to set up her “pop up shop”.

e) Presentation by Gigaclear. Three Councillors attended the virtual presentation made by Gigaclear about their proposals to bring ultrafast full fibre broadband to rural communities. The Parish Council was informed that the installation works would entail using existing ducts where possible, but that there would be a need to dig up areas and use overhead cables. Gigaclear intend to hold an open village meeting before they start any works in the village.

f) Application by Gigaclear for consent to lay cables through an area of open space in Kennet Close, owned by the Parish Council. Gigaclear have asked for the Parish Council’s permission to dig and lay cables through the corner of the small open space outside 26 Kennet Close, Berinsfield. The Parish Council AGREED that the Clerk could sign the Network Access Agreement, No. GWA114882/SE-BRF-01 to allow Gigaclear to install, use and operate apparatus on the area in Kennet Close.

g) South Oxfordshire District Council Planning Service Town and Parish Council Engagement – Pilot – June 2021 – August 2021. The Parish Council has been asked to take part in the pilot scheme which would allow Members to be able to discuss any planning concerns virtually with Officers from South Oxfordshire District Council via a Teams meeting. It was AGREED that the Parish Council should join the pilot scheme and that Councillors Bridge, Bunyan, Chrisp and Mrs. Jones should participate in the meetings along with the Clerk.

h) Defibrillator Training. It was AGREED that Mr. D. Scate would provide training for up to 30 people at the pavilion car park at 6 p.m. on Friday 11th June, 2021.

8. Statement of Accounts for Payment in June 2021. It was AGREED that the statement of accounts for payment in June 2021 in the sum of £17,109.85 should be APPROVED.

9. Items for report to Chairman.

a) Community Litter Pick. Councillor Mrs. Jones arranged for Members of the Berry Youth Centre to carry out a community litter pick on Saturday 29th May, 2021. Councillor Mrs. Jones reported that approximately 30 young people from the Berry Youth Centre had participated in the litter pick, but she was surprised that no residents or Members of the Parish Council attended. The Chairman, Councillor Scott-Ely thanked Councillor Mrs. Jones for taking the lead on running the community litter pick and it was AGREED that letters of thanks should be prepared and given to all of the young people who participated in the litter pick.

b) Grass cutting. It was AGREED that a meeting of the Open Spaces Committee should be called in approximately a month’s time to discuss the grass cutting and ground maintenance in the village.

c) Vans parked in Russell Jackson Close. Councillor Mrs. Stockford reported that some vans are being parked in the access road to Russell Jackson Close which are causing an obstruction for people entering the close and also a visibility problem for people exiting the close. The Parish Council noted this information.

10. Date of next meeting - 5th July 2021.